ANGOLA, N.Y. — Staff and students of Lake Shore Central School District have been mourning the loss of longtime bus driver Brenda Chiappetta, who was killed last week in a bus yard accident. She was 58.

Michael Dallessandro, transportation and grounds supervisor for the district, said that Chiappetta was walking to her bus just after 6 a.m. on Dec. 3 to begin her morning run when she was accidentally struck by another bus, which was being driven to the shop by one of the mechanics. She was killed instantly.

Schools were closed that day “due to the nature of the incident and the impact on the transportation department, school district and the community as a whole,” a district announcement said. Grief counseling and other support services were offered to all employees.

“It has been a rough week here so far,” Dallessandro said Thursday.

A funeral was held Friday.

In a related story, local high school students began passing out rubber wristbands as part of what was dubbed “Operation Positive Energy.” The wristbands are meant to serve as reminders to stay positive and not complain. They also commemorate lost loved ones like Chiappetta, who “served as a beacon of positivity in the lives of our children,” a district announcement said.